Ronaldo wins Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player of the Year award. (Picture: Getty)

Cristiano Ronaldo believes he has silenced any lingering doubters by winning FIFA’s inaugural ‘Best Men’s Player of the Year’ award for 2016.

The Real Madrid forward finished ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann to the prize which was voted for by fans, journalists, national team captains, and national team coaches, with votes from each group counting as 25% of the total.

Ronaldo led Real to Champions League glory and helped Portugal to their first ever major international triumph with a memorable Euro 2016, success that has silenced any lingering doubts about his standing in world football.

‘There were many doubts, many campaigns against me from inside and outside football,’ Ronaldo told Spanish radio station COPE.

Ronaldo defeated Griezmann to the award. (Picture: Getty)

Ronaldo poses with his Best FIFA Men’s Player Award next to Sir Alex Ferguson. (Picture: Getty)

‘They wanted to hit me from all sides and the truth is The Best was The Best and that is me, so I am very happy,’ he added.

‘They wanted me to feel bad, but as I have said ‘he who owes nothing, fears nothing in life’. As always, I have shut up a few mouths once again.’

Ronaldo’s triumph is the fourth time that the 31-year-old has been crowned the world’s best player, an award which split from the Ballon d’Or this year – which Ronaldo won in December, also for fourth time.